5 Reasons Why Citizen Watches Are Worth Buying
Duane Beckett
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Wrist watches have been around since the 1800s, with many manufacturers enduring the test of time to still be in operation today. Due to social media and platforms like YouTube, many people are becoming watch enthusiasts for the first time and are looking for an affordable gateway into the potentially very expensive hobby.
Many people are aware that the most renowned watches come out of Switzerland, although Japan has cemented itself as one of the finest nations in the world for watchmaking. Japanese watch brands include the likes of Casio, Orient, Seiko, Grand Seiko and Citizen.
Beginning life as a pocket watch manufacturer in the 1920s, Citizen has become one of the most well-known and popular watch brands in the world. If you are considering purchasing one of their products, you may be interested to read our list of 5 reasons why Citizen watches are worth buying.
1. Great value
As mentioned, some watches can get incredibly expensive. This is due to many factors, including the materials used, the internal movement, and exclusivity of the piece.
While there are many Citizen models, they never really reach a point where their price point is unattainable. However, they are still usually hundreds of dollars, which is a significant amount of money for many people. Although Citizen watches will not offer the premium quality and components of other brands, they deliver an incredible bang for your buck.
Most expensive Citizen watch retailing at the time of writing: Eco-Drive One – $4,750.00
Least expensive Citizen watch retailing at the time of writing: Corso – $180.00
Check out: The Cheapest Rolex Watches? 5 Options Below $10k
2. Wide variety
Citizen offers watches for men and women as well as unisex options with many different types and models. This includes chronographs, dive watches, dress watches, sports watches and more. The power variations also feature quartz and automatic options in a range of different sizes.
No matter what you are looking for in a watch, Citizen will have you covered. They have options regardless of how big your wrist is or what your style preferences are. There are even models with atomic timekeeping, which uses radio waves to receive a highly accurate time day and date from an atomic clock. A fun feature of Citizen is their wide array of collaborative watches that partner with brands like Disney, Marvel and Star Wars.
Smallest case size available at the time of writing: 18mm
Largest case size available at the time of writing: 53mm
3. Trusted brand
As mentioned previously, Citizen has been around since the 1920s and they have developed a fantastic relationship with their loyal customers ever since. They also have many partnerships with other organizations, such as Manchester United Football Club, Walt Disney World, the Toronto Maple Leafs and more. As seen in the photo above, they have clocks that are noticeable at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Citizen received renown for being the official timekeeper and watch of the US Open tennis championships from the early 1990s until 2017. These companies and organizations would not partner with Citizen if they were not a trusted manufacturer of quality products and their prominence throughout the world proves this as fact.
4. Eco-Drive
One of the most unique additions to Citizen watches that enables them to stand out from their competition is Eco-Drive technology. This is a method of powering watches that works by harnessing light and converting it into energy using a built-in solar cell.
Typically, cheaper watches will feature battery powered, quartz movements where the battery will need replacing on a regular basis. This makes Citizen’s watches environmentally friendly in addition to removing the hassle of switching out a battery.
You may be reading this and wondering how the Eco-Drive would work in low light scenarios. Well, the watches will even charge through indoor lighting such as fluorescent lights or desk lamps. Or, if you’re in darkness, an Eco-Drive watch can run for over six months on a full charge. Some models even have a power save function which has been recorded as operating for up to seven years!
5. Build quality
Regardless of all the bells and whistles, Citizen watches are just simply well-constructed. Many of the watches are manufactured from stainless steel or titanium, which gives a solid feel while keeping the weight low for comfort. Titanium watches can be a concern due to their tendency to scratch easily, although Citizen applies a hardening technique to the watches to increase the scratch resistance.
While many of their watches will have acrylic crystals to keep costs down, some of their models do, in fact, utilize sapphire crystals. Combine all of this with some decent water resistance on many models and you have an exceptional build quality watch for the price range.
Check out: 9 Most Expensive Watches in the World: $11 Million and Higher
Are Citizen watches collectible?
While you can certainly make your own at-home collection of Citizen watches, it is not generally known as a collectible brand. This is because their watches are generally more affordable than some brands like Rolex, for example.
The best part about Citizen watches is that they tend to be popular and come in a variety of styles, so it is a great watch brand to start with if you are looking to start a collection of watches. It might not appreciate in value as a Rolex would, but you could get more than one Citizen watch for the same price, which allows you to switch up your weekly watch wardrobe.
So, are Citizen watches worth the money?
The short answer is yes. Since their inception in the 1920s, Citizen has added strengths to their belt and solidified themselves as one of the most popular watch companies on the planet. With many partnerships, including a current one with American multimedia giant Disney, and previous tennis affiliations, they have become a household name.
When buying a watch that will cost hundreds of dollars, it’s important to go with a brand that you can trust. Through consistent innovation, Citizen has managed to remain relevant in a world of many newer watch companies and models.
By producing affordable watches that do not compromise too much on build quality, this Japanese giant has achieved world domination. With many different styles, power systems, sizes, types and price points, you can see why Citizen watches are worth buying. There is truly something for everyone from Citizen.